Images: Jason Versus the Volcano

In April, cameras mounted on the vehicle Jason captured huge plumes of gas and spitting rocks emitted from a submarine volcano south of Japan. (Photo courtesy of the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Exploration, NOAA Vents Program)

Ship's crew on the research vessel Melville recover Jason during one of four days spent exploring the submarine volcano. (Photo by Julie Huber, Marine Biological Laboratory)

Engineer and Jason pilot Jim Varnum grimaces after catching a whiff of fresh, solidified sulfur clinging like yellow cement to the vehicle's rear. The vehicle had broken through thin sulfur skin covering the edge of a molten, undersea pool and carried about 80 pounds of sulfur back to the ship. (Photo by Paul Bueren, Scripps Institution of Oceanography)